Dead battery, key stuck in ignition

[c@@kieMonsta]

Installed a brand new battery back in December. Wife drove the car last night. This afternoon, she goes to start it and nothing. Not even an attempt to crank, no sound. She noticed that the Parking brake indicator flashed on the instrument panel and the button itself. The key is stuck in the ignition and I cannot remove it. I currently have a battery tender hooked up to the front posts but suspect that won't help. I need to pull the battery out and do a test. Thing is, is that I don't know how to release the tailgate and have come up with nothing via Google search.

ETA: Just did a test with a multimeter and it's showing the battery @ 4.59 volts...

[lazerghost]

I just had this issue with mine. Luckily it was just a dead battery. Same exact symptoms too. The tender didn't work for me no matter what setting I had it on.

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[c@@kieMonsta]

I just had this issue with mine. Luckily it was just a dead battery. Same exact symptoms too. The tender didn't work for me no matter what setting I had it on.

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How old was the battery?

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[lazerghost]

How old was the battery?

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I just purchased the car about two months ago, but it was the stock battery. I'm assuming it was never changed, so ±10 years?

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[c@@kieMonsta]

I just purchased the car about two months ago, but it was the stock battery. I'm assuming it was never changed, so ±10 years?

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Sedan or Avant?

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[lazerghost]

It's the sedan. I'm not sure if the hatch is set up the same way as a VW Golf, but there's a little "service" door above where the latch for the hatch is. If you can pop the plastic piece off it should give you access to the latch to open it up.

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[c@@kieMonsta]

It's the sedan. I'm not sure if the hatch is set up the same way as a VW Golf, but there's a little "service" door above where the latch for the hatch is. If you can pop the plastic piece off it should give you access to the latch to open it up.

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I was able to give the battery a "jump" long enough to pull the key out and open the hatch. Pulled the battery. Parts store tested 5.16v, couldn't even do a load test. We'll see tomorrow when the battery is all charged.

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[95blkmax]

It could be a bad cell on the battery or your alternator not charging it. Did the store try testing your alternator's output while on there?

Also, if you're flexible enough (for future reference), you could have just dropped the rear seats and stretched back towards the glow-ie emergency trunk release to get it open (the "omg I've been kidnapped-handle" inside the trunk, lol).

^^ nevermind on that tip. I just realized the key (which you would have needed to unlock the rear seats if locked in) was stuck at the ignition. Disregard... as you were

[c@@kieMonsta]

It could be a bad cell on the battery or your alternator not charging it. Did the store try testing your alternator's output while on there?

Also, if you're flexible enough (for future reference), you could have just dropped the rear seats and stretched back towards the glow-ie emergency trunk release to get it open (the "omg I've been kidnapped-handle" inside the trunk, lol).

^^ nevermind on that tip. I just realized the key (which you would have needed to unlock the rear seats if locked in) was stuck at the ignition. Disregard... as you were

I have an Avant. No glowy handle to be seen.

Called the parts store and they said the battery won't charge so it's a goner. Good thing it's under replacement still.

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[c@@kieMonsta]

Whoops, didn't update this thread like I should have with the conclusion. Anyways, yup, battery flat out took a massive dump. They couldn't charge it past 7 volts over the course of almost 24 hrs lol. So they swapped it for a replacement under warranty. In case anyone was wondering, it's an Autocraft Platinum AGM. Battery barely lasted half a year. Hopefully the replacement lasts. So those of you that experience complete inability to start or jump your car after perfect functionality the previous days(s), start with the battery! Thanks for everyone's help on this.

[JPJ2007]

Next time you need to power the car just pop the hood. Near the passenger firewall are two posts, for jumping other peoples cars off. It also doubles as a way to connect your car to power to access anything in the car that needs power, be it a key in the ignition, or something in the MMI etc...

[c@@kieMonsta]

Next time you need to power the car just pop the hood. Near the passenger firewall are two posts, for jumping other peoples cars off. It also doubles as a way to connect your car to power to access anything in the car that needs power, be it a key in the ignition, or something in the MMI etc...

Yeah that's what I was going to do next with my buddies set of cables and his truck but got enough juice from the jumper pack right before he came so it all turned out good in the end.

My only question is, when doing that will power from the donor source bypass the dead battery or flow through it to the necessary components?

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